Friday morning, the Wayne County clerk of court office confirmed Wilber's tax problems, with five state tax liens on file. Three liens filed last year and two this year total nearly $64,000 in unpaid North Carolina taxes, the clerk of court's office said.

Wilber's has been open since 1962, named for 88-year-old owner Wilber Shirley, and is considered one of the icons in Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

The last year has been unkind to some of the state's most historic barbecue institutions, with Wilber's joining other famous North Carolina barbecue restaurants to close in recent months.

Allen & Son Barbeque closed in December after 48 years. Bill's Barbecue in Wilson closed in January after 56 years.

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